January 14: Work
on the Shorter Catechism

A Bellweather of Our Church’s Health?

Dipping
into an article by the Rev. Stuart Robinson [pictured at right], titled “Recently Discovered Memoranda of the Westminster Assembly”
(The Southern Presbyterian Review, 27.4 (October 1876):
730-759, we find this excerpt on the Westminster Assembly’s work on the Shorter
and Larger Catechisms:—

The
Catechisms, Larger and Shorter, were discussed with equal care before the whole
Assembly, as reported from their Committees, question by question. Under date
of January 14,1646,
the record is:

“Upon
motion made by Mr. Vines, it was Ordered
:

“That
the Committee for the Catechism do prepare a draught of two Catechisms, one
more large and another more brief, in which they are to have an eye to the Confession
of Faith, and to the matter of the Catechism already begun.” [cf. Van Dixhoorn,
Minutes & Papers of the Westminster Assembly, vol. 4,
p. 399]

To Dr.
Tuckney was assigned the Shorter Catechism.

It is
not until April 12, 1648, that we find the Minute of their completion, as
follows :

“The
proofs for both Catechisms shall be transcribed and sent up to both Honorable Houses
of Parliament. Ordered to be carried up on Friday morning by the
Prolocutor with the Assembly.”
[Session 1049., cf. M&PWA, iv.749.]

“APRIL
14, 1648, Friday Morning.

“Prolocutor
informed the Assembly that he had delivered the Cate­chisms, and was called in
and told that they had ordered six hundred copies with those proofs to be
printed for the use of the Assembly and two Houses ; and give thanks to the
Assembly for the same.”
[Session 1051, cf. M&PWA, iv.750.]

Use of the Westminster Shorter Catechism has
had its ups and downs. In the Southern Presbyterian denomination throughout the
first half of the 20th-century, there were often nearly one thousand children
per year who would memorize the whole of the Shorter Catechism. The Christian
Observer would annually print an honor roll with the names of these
children. It is interesting (and depressing) to watch over the next few decades
as, year by year, those numbers declined. Even as late as 1958, there were
perhaps a thousand in that list. But by 1975, the list of names had shrunk to
less than two hundred. Finally, by 1988 the publisher had given up on this
annual feature. If we tried to put together such a roster today, where would we
stand? Every good Presbyterian will acclaim the value of the Shorter Catechism,
but how many actually use it? How many disciple their children through the
memorization of it?

It’s
not a new problem, though. In his review of
Dr. Ashbel Green’s then-recently published Lectures on the Shorter
Catechism, Dr. Archibald Alexander wrote:—.

But if
we do not entirely misinterpret the temper and taste of the times in which we
live, doctrinal catechisms, and lectures explanatory of such catechisms, are
not the books which will be sought after and read with avidity. The religious taste
of most readers is, we fear, greatly vitiated by works of fiction and other
kinds of light reading. Nothing will now please, unless it be characterized by
novelty and variety; and while many new means of instruction have been afforded
to our youth, in which we sincerely rejoice, we are so old fashioned in our
notions, as to feel regret that in our own church those excellent little
summaries of Christian doctrine, the Westminster Catechisms, are falling with
many into disuse.”
[The
Biblical Repertory, and Theological Review, Vol. 2 No. 2 (1830): 299]

Words to Live By:
Few things in this life just fall into our laps. Most good things take work to
acquire, develop and maintain; discipline bears a good fruit for the long term.
The value of the Westminster Shorter Catechism has been acclaimed by many, but
for how many of us is that acclamation mere lip service? The year is still
young, and it’s not too late to slip in another resolution. Wouldn’t this be a
great year to work on the Shorter Catechism?

Lutheran

Presbyterian

About Me

Retired. Reformed and Presbyterian by background, but dedicated to the Anglican Prayerbook with degrees from Presbyterian and Episcopal seminaries. Informed by both traditions. Not giving up the 1662 BCP for the Presbyterians and not giving up the Westminster Standards for the Anglicans.